Artest charged with four misdemeanors

Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) – Sacramento Kings forward Ron Artest was
charged with four misdemeanors stemming from his arrest in early March over a
dispute with his wife.

Artest is expected to be arraigned Thursday on charges of battery, corporal
injury to a spouse, false imprisonment and dissuading a witness from reporting
a crime.

Each misdemeanor carries a maximum sentence of one year in prison.

On March 5, according to the Placer County Sheriff’s Department, a female
called 911 at 9:23 a.m. local time, reporting that she had been
assaulted by Artest. Deputies responded and found both parties in the home,
but separated. Artest cooperated during the interview and was booked without
incident. He was later released on $50,000 bail.

The team suspended Artest for two games. He later issued a public apology and
was reinstated after the team learned that the legal process was underway.